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Lesson: Harvesting Oil from the Earth

Contributed by: Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

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Summary

Students investigate sources of fossil fuels, particularly oil. Through two associated activities, they work with a model of the Earth to learn how engineers and scientists look for oil by taking core samples, and they explore and analyze oil consumption and production in the U.S. and around the world.

Engineering Connection

Finding fossil fuels below the Earth's surface is a challenge for geological and petroleum engineers. Much investigation is done before drilling expensive wells: They examine core samples, look for natural fractures in the reservoir rock, and investigate the size and porosity of the reservoir and how fast oil droplets move through the pores. Engineers also design special machines and tools for extracting and transporting oil, and complex refining processes to convert the crude oil into many forms of usable energy.

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Learning Objectives

Explain the important role of engineering in gathering and finding oil.

Describe how people use oil in their everyday lives.

Introduction/Motivation

What is as precious as gold? Oil! Have you ever wondered where oil comes from, or what its use is? Well, the U.S. gets about 40% of its energy from oil, a fossil fuel that is also referred to as petroleum, which comes from sedimentary rocks under the Earth's surface. It takes millions of years to create oil. The process started way before the times of dinosaurs, but it is estimated that humans will use all the oil that exists in 40 to 60 years. Americans have been drilling for oil since about 1859, when the first oil well was constructed (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Since 1859 when a man named Drake set up the first oil well in Pennsylvania, Americans have drilled for oil.

How do oil companies extract (pull out) these tiny droplets away from the rock located thousands of feet underground? How does this oil move through the dense rock and into wells that take it to the surface? How do the tiny droplets combine into the billions of gallons of oil that the U.S. and the rest of the world use each day? Where should engineers drill oil wells to ensure that the most oil is contacted? How should machinery be built and used to get oil? So many questions exist about oil. Fortunately, scientists and engineers use their science and math skills to find answers and solutions to these questions.

First, to harvest oil, we must find it. But, how do you know where is it if you cannot see under the ground? Geological and petroleum engineers drill holes in the Earth to get core samples of the underground layers. If oil is found in the core sample, then the chances are good that more oil is present in the region surrounding the core. Next, the oil must be extracted and transported to a location where it can be used. Unfortunately, most of the steps involved in getting oil to our homes and vehicles usually cause pollution. Pulling oil up to the surface of the Earth can pollute the ground, moving oil to other locations can sometimes cause oil spills, and burning oil to get energy for automobiles or at energy plants produces air pollution.

Despite the potential for pollution, oil provides energy for most of the U.S. Most cars run on gasoline, which is made from oil, and many houses are heated by oil. Engineers need to know about oil reservoirs before they begin the process of drilling wells, which is very costly. Incorrect predictions can be costly errors for oil companies. They need to know about the size and number of pores in reservoir rock. They need to know how fast oil droplets move through these pores. They need to know where the natural fractures are in reservoirs so that they know where to drill wells. Finding the answers involves research that is a mix of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, applied mathematics and geology, which are all engineering areas of study. Engineers develop the machines and tools used for all steps for the extraction, transportation and burning of oil for energy.

Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers

Sedimentary Rocks

Fossil fuels are energy-rich substances that have formed from the Earth's long-buried plants and microorganisms. Crude oil, one common fossil fuel, is formed in sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are rock layers formed from sediments, such as sand and organic matter that are transported, deposited and cemented together over time. Sedimentary rocks typically have visible layers of different kinds of sediment (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. The visible layers of a sedimentary rock formation, like those where oil can be found underground.

The sediment is always deposited in horizontal layers, one on top of the other. Therefore, sedimentary rocks exhibit horizontal layers initially, and the layers closest to the bottom, or found deeper under the Earth's surface, are the oldest. Over time, however, the Earth's natural and dynamic processes, such as erosion and plate tectonics, can alter the rocks. Plate tectonics causes rocks to fold and fault, as seen in Figure 3 (refer to the Earthquake Formation lesson of this unit for more information).

Figure 3. Plate tectonics causes deformation of the Earth's surface, such as folding in sedimentary rocks.

Millions of years ago, in certain parts of the world, when thriving marine communities with lots of different organisms died, they became organic matter (sediments) on the ocean floor. Over time, more sediment was deposited on top, and both layers solidified into sedimentary rock. A sediment layer with a lot of organic matter has the potential to become oil, provided a couple of other things happen. Usually, microorganisms consume the organic matter in rock layers; however, if the rocks are located in a low-oxygen environment, different microorganisms — called anaerobic organisms — turn the organic matter into methane. Methane, also called natural gas, is made of hydrogen and carbon that can itself be used for energy or it can be turned into oil. Methane becomes oil if it is created deep below the Earth's surface and trapped there by an impermeable rock that it cannot pass through. Impermeable rocks, such as granite that trap methane and oil under the ground are called cap rocks. At locations where cap rocks are faulted, or folded, large oil deposits can be found (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Large fossil fuel deposits are often found where rocks have folded beneath the Earth.

First, to harvest oil, we must find it even though it is deep underground where we cannot see. Geological and petroleum engineers drill holes in the Earth to get core samples of the underground layers. If oil is found in the core, then the chances are good that a lot more oil exists in the area surrounding the core. Engineers set up equipment to drill in the exact area that their tests show contain a lot of oil. Then, the oil is extracted, usually by the use of oil wells that pump the oil up to the surface. Extracting oil and using oil can be potentially harmful to the environment. Sometimes when the oil is brought to the surface it contains sediments that cannot be used for energy. If these sediments are not disposed of carefully, they can cause pollution. Once extracted, the oil is transported to where it will be refined and used. During transport, oil has the potentially to cause more pollution. For example, sometimes tankers full of oil run aground and cause oil spills or steadily leak into the ocean. Finally, refining and burning oil contributes to air pollution — and that is in addition to vehicles burning refined oil products, such as gasoline, for energy. Despite the potential for pollution, oil provides essential energy for most of the U.S. Most of our nation's cars run on gasoline, which is made from oil, and many houses are heated by oil, not to mention the enormous amount of plastic products made from crude oil. Because of the anticipated decline in oil supplies and contributions to pollution, engineers are continually searching for more efficient ways to power automobiles and heat houses that use less oil.

Vocabulary/Definitions

fossil fuel:

Energy-rich substances that have formed from the Earth's long-buried plants and microorganisms. Three commonly-used fossil fuels: coal, oil (petroleum) and natural gas.

reservoir rock:

A rock formation with special kinds of porous rocks that contains oil droplets.

pore:

An open space within rock material.

cap rock:

A very hard, impermeable rock that traps methane and oil under the ground.

fracture:

A tiny crack in rock layers.

sedimentary rock:

Layers of rock that were formed by accumulation of rock fragments, shell fragments, plant material, mud and sands, which were transported to their present locations by water, air, wind or ice.

core:

A long, thin sample of rock taken from deep below the Earth's surface.

Associated Activities

What's Down There? - In search of oil, students take core samples from a clay model of the Earth.

Lesson Closure

What is oil used for? (Possible answers: Oil is refined into many products for many purposes. Some oil is burned to create energy to run automobiles, heat houses, or for oil-burning lamps. Some oil is refined into lubricants used for maintenance of moveable parts such as motors, door hinges and swings. Some oil is used in to create the uncountable number and types of plastic materials that we use every day.)

Where does oil come from? (Answer: Oil is a fossil fuel found underground that was created from plants and animals that were alive millions of years ago.)

How does oil contribute to pollution? (Possible answers: The side- effects of air, land and water pollution from burning it in vehicles, industry and factories, and during the extraction of and transportation of oil from the Earth.)

Can you think of any ways to help reduce the pollution caused by the drilling and transport of oil?

Do you have any ideas of ways to conserve oil so we do not run out of it in 40 to 60 years?

Assessment

Pre-Lesson Assessment

Brainstorming: Have students generate a number of possible ideas about the following question. Remind students that no idea or suggestion is "silly." All ideas should be respectfully heard. Ask the students:

What are some of the many uses for oil? (Possible answers: Car fuel, lamp fuel, heaters, to make a hinges and parts work smoothly, to make plastics.)

Post-Introduction Assessment

Question/Answer: Ask questions and have students raise their hands to answer. Discuss their answers as a class.

Where does oil come from? (Answer: It is found in between the layers of sedimentary rocks under the Earth's surface.)

How fast do we expect humans to use all the oil? (Answer: It is estimated that people will use all the oil left in 40 to 60 years.)

What are two types of engineers who work to find and gather oil? (Answer: Petroleum and geological engineers.)

How do engineers get oil from the ground? (Answer: They drill for it after they have verified its existence through core samples obtained from areas that are predicted to contain oil.)

After oil is found, what else must be done with it before it can be used in our homes and cars? (Answer: It must be extracted, refined or modified for specific purposes, and transported.)

Can oil cause pollution? (Answer: Yes. Pulling oil up to the surface of the Earth can pollute the ground, moving oil to another location can leak and cause oil spills on land and water, and burning oil to get energy in cars or at energy plants pollutes the air.)

What types of things do engineers need to know before drilling for oil? (Answer: They must know the size of oil reservoirs and how oil moves through the reservoirs.)

Lesson Summary Assessment

Numbered Heads: Divide the class into teams of three to five students each. Have students on each team number off so each has a different number. Ask the students a question (give them a time frame for solving it, if desired). Have the members of each team work together to formulate an answer. Everyone on the team must know the answer. Call a number at random. Students with that number raise their hands to answer the question. If not all students with that number raise their hands, give the teams a bit more time. Pick a student to answer. Continue until you get the correct answer.

How is oil formed? (Answer: From plant and animal microorganisms, or sediments.)

When was oil made? (Answer: Millions of years ago.)

Where is oil found? (Answer: Deep below the Earth's surface, in reservoir rocks.)

For additional questions, see the Post-Introduction Assessment section.

Lesson Extension Activities

Make a core sample using cupcakes: http://www.coaleducation.org/lessons/wim/4.htm

Contributors

Copyright

Supporting Program

Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Acknowledgements

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.